Alderleaf Buckthorn

Rhamnus alnifolia

Alderleaf Buckthorn

Robert H. Mohlenbrock

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Rhamnaceae
Genus:
Rhamnus
Species:
Rhamnus alnifolia

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
4-6 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may, jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
Yellow, Green, Brown
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: California, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Ancylis brauni, Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
commonly found in wetland areas

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: For seeds, cold moist stratification for 90-150 days. For cuttings, 17 cm in length, taken in late June, treated with 8000 ppm Hormex rooting powder and struck in sand media under mist with bottom heat for 7 weeks.

Establishment: Seeds are collected when mature fruits turn black in September. Cuttings are collected in late June. The plant is found from British Columbia east to Quebec and Maine and south to California, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Source: npn.rngr.net